Reverend James Emory Kingry died Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Southeast Health. He was 83 years old.

Reverend Kingry was a graduate of Rehobeth High School, Howard College (Samford University), and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary before transferring to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He began preaching at the age of 16, pastoring churches in Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky before returning to Alabama as pastor of Pepperrel Baptist Church in Lee County. He had a special desire to help children and their families and joined the staff of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries as a social worker in August 1970. He served in several positions and retired in January 2000 as Area Director.

He was preceded in death by his parents, H. H. and Lucy (Lasseter) Kingry.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha Coskrey Kingry; his children, Paul (Lisa) Kingry, Denise (Mike) Culpepper, and Steve (Susie) Kingry; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a fourth on the way.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 23, 2019 from the Ward Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Hosea Parker and Reverend Billy Womack officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. prior to the service.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Martin Kingry, Max Culpepper, Allen Kingry, Alex Kingry, Brandon Martin, and Matt West. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the James Bedsole Class of Malvern Baptist Church.

The family will be accepting flowers or contributions may be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries.